The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a partnership with fintech company Cashi to expand digital payment infrastructure across Africa, with a focus on Chad.
The collaboration targets low-connectivity environments where traditional banking services are scarce and cash remains the dominant medium of exchange.
Cashi provides a digital payment platform that enables individuals and businesses to send and receive money via mobile phones, point-of-sale devices, and SMS-based tools.
“IFC’s upstream support allows us to adapt our proven, crisis-tested platform to the realities of central Africa. This partnership enables us to work closely with regulators and ecosystem partners, build trust with local merchants, and deliver practical financial tools that people can use in their daily lives, even in low-connectivity environments,” said Tarneem Saeed, CEO, Cashi.
What You Need to Know
By connecting users with banks, telecom providers, and other financial institutions in a single interoperable ecosystem, Cashi facilitates everyday transactions that were previously constrained by cash dependency.
For small businesses, the platform promises fewer operational limitations, lower transaction costs, and improved access to financial services, helping drive revenue growth and support job creation.
In Chad, only 10–15 per cent of adults have a bank or mobile money account, compared with over 30 per cent across sub-Saharan Africa.
Cashi is designed to function efficiently even in areas with limited internet or mobile coverage, addressing one of the key barriers to financial inclusion in the region.
IFC’s Commitment to Inclusive, Low-Tech Solutions
The partnership reflects IFC’s broader focus on financial inclusion, digital connectivity, agribusiness, and climate resilience across the Sahel, a region facing unique economic and environmental challenges.
“Expanding access to digital financial services through innovative, tailored solutions is critical in markets where smartphone penetration is low,” said Olivier Buyoya, Division Director for West Africa, IFC.
“This project underscores IFC’s commitment to support accessible, low‑tech, and resilient architecture solutions that boost access to finance for individuals and businesses in the Sahel more broadly.”
Aligning with Chad’s Development Agenda
The initiative also supports Chad’s Tchad Connexion 2030 development agenda, which prioritises digitalisation and financial inclusion as drivers of economic diversification, increased revenue collection, and private sector growth.
By introducing interoperable and resilient payment infrastructure, the project aims to provide tangible tools for both individuals and enterprises, strengthening the country’s broader economic ecosystem.
This collaboration demonstrates how international development organisations and fintech innovators can work together to bring practical, scalable solutions to some of the most underserved financial markets in Africa.
Talking Points
It is significant that Cashi is introducing an interoperable digital payment platform in Chad, a market where cash dominates and less than 15 per cent of adults have access to formal financial services.
This initiative is particularly noteworthy because it addresses real operational challenges, including low connectivity and limited smartphone penetration, enabling individuals and small businesses to send and receive money via mobile phones, POS devices, and SMS.
At Techparley, we see how solutions like this can accelerate financial inclusion beyond urban centres, delivering tangible value to underserved communities and bridging the gap between informal and formal economic activity.
For small businesses, the integration of payments, banking, and telecom services into a single ecosystem reduces transaction costs, eases cash management, and opens doors to broader financial services, allowing them to grow revenues and create jobs.
As Cashi scales through its partnership with IFC, there is a strong opportunity to deepen engagement with regulators, ecosystem partners, and local merchants, accelerating onboarding and building trust.
With the right strategic approach, Cashi has the potential to become a key driver of financial inclusion and digital transformation in Chad and the wider Sahel region.
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